CLEVELAND – August 3, 2015
Senior Transportation Connection (STC) celebrates its 10th Anniversary of providing transportation to older adults in Cuyahoga County on Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2015 with its first gala dinner. The event honors retiring Lyndhurst Mayor Joe Cicero, a founding STC board member and past board chair.
The event begins at 6:30 pm at Acacia Reservation Clubhouse, 26899 Cedar Rd., Lyndhurst. Emcee is WKYC-TV anchor Russ Mitchell. First Interstate Properties President Mitchell C. Schneider is event chair and Executive Sponsor.
The evening includes dinner, cocktails, music and program amid the scenic Cleveland MetroPark setting. A “mission auction” will raise funds for an STC bus named in Mayor Cicero’s honor that will serve Lyndhurst residents. Proceeds will help STC replace older vehicles, add new models and expand the agency’s capacity.
Janice Dzigiel, STC’s executive director, praised the mayor’s service: “For a decade, he has guided our growth with good humor, generosity and energetic advocacy. He has been with us from the beginning, so he was a natural honoree for this milestone anniversary year.”
About one-third of STC riders require mobility assistance and use a wheelchair, walker or other device. Trained drivers escort and assist passengers from their door to the vehicle. The not-for-profit organization was founded when Cuyahoga County transportation providers organized to create a coordinated, shared service model. Mayor Cicero saw potential immediately. “Of course, I immediately saw benefits to seniors staying connected to their community, accessing life activities,” he explained. “But STC also has presented a unique opportunity for communities to work together to improve services to our constituents while managing our budgets. I have a deep passion for STC and the service it provides to our seniors.”
Tickets to the 10th anniversary are $100 each and sponsorships are available. Call STC at 800-983-4782 to participate.
About Senior Transportation Connection
The non-profit STC provides transportation for nearly registered 20,000 residents of 37 zip codes across 71 percent of Cuyahoga County. Passengers are mostly age 60 or older, with mobility challenges due to age, lack of access, disability, frailty or inability to drive. Social service agencies, 26 municipalities, and Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) contract with STC paying most of the costs for each trip. Riders pay a nominal portion of the fare. Destinations include medical appointments, including dialysis and treatment; senior centers for meals and social activities; grocery shopping and personal errands. STC drives nearly one million miles each year, delivering about 130,000 trips. For more information, call 800.983.4782.
Full press release click here in PDF format SENIOR TRANSPORTATION CONNECTION CELEBRATES
A DECADE OF QUALITY, ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE
TRANSPORTATION FOR CUYAHOGA COUNTY SENIORS

CLEVELAND – February 5, 2015

Senior Transportation Connection (STC) celebrates its 10th Anniversary on Thursday, February 5, 2015 with a “Free Fare Day” for passengers on that date.

Senior Transportation Connection (STC) provides comprehensive, coordinated, efficient and affordable transportation to seniors and adults with disabilities throughout Cuyahoga County. February 5th marks the date STC officially incorporated as a not-for-profit organization. Passengers’ co-pay will be waived, and drivers will enjoy complimentary lunches as part of the mobile celebration that kicks off STC’s 10th anniversary year.

“It’s a small way to say ‘thank you’ to our passengers. It is an honor to get them to their medical appointments, senior centers or shopping. It’s our job to support their independence,” said Janice Dzigiel, STC’s executive director. She has been at the organization’s helm for nearly a decade herself, as its first permanent administrator.

She added, “We also celebrate our dedicated drivers – especially this time of year when weather challenges their excellent customer service!” STC provides “door to door” services, where the driver is trained to escort and assist passengers from their door to the vehicle. About one-third of STC riders require mobility assistance and use a wheelchair, walker or other device.

STC was founded when several Cuyahoga County transportation providers began meeting informally to explore coordination and shared services: NOCOP, First Integrated Regional Transportation Service (FIRST), Southeast Senior Transportation (SEST), TriCity Transportation and the Transportation Consortium Coordinating Committee (TC3).

The not-for-profit was initially funded through Mt. Sinai Health Care Foundation, Cleveland Foundation, United Way Senior Success Vision Council, Jewish Community Federation’s Community Services for Older Adults, Saint Luke’s Foundation, Deaconess Community Foundation and The Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland, among others. Today, 20 percent of its operating revenue comes from charitable donations.

Today, 26 municipalities, 10 social service agency partners and Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) contract with STC paying most of the costs for each trip. Riders pay a nominal portion of the fare. The rider portion will be waived on Feb. 5 to kick off the milestone year. Other anniversary activities are planned.

“STC has its roots in communities and not-for-profit organizations that understood the significance of transportation for our constituents,” Dzigiel explained. “We are proud to be a model of collaboration that continues to attract new partners each year.”

STC serves nearly 20,000 residents of 37 zip codes across 71 percent of Cuyahoga County who have mobility challenges due to age, lack of access, disability, frailty or inability to drive. Destinations include medical appointments, including dialysis and treatment; senior centers for meals and social activities; grocery shopping and personal errands.

STC employs 67 individuals and manages a fleet of 44 vehicles with a capacity of 10 to 12 passengers each. The fleet logs about 900,000 miles each year. A central call center schedules rides, manages routes and dispatches schedule updates to drivers.

Cuyahoga County: Effective October 1, 2008 the senior adult of North Olmsted, Olmsted Falls and Olmsted Township who need transportation will be served Senior Transportation Connection rather than the North Olmsted Commission on Paratransit (NOCOP.) The Board of Directors of NOCOP approved the 15 month contract at the September 17 meeting.

The NOCOP communities have worked with the STC since 2005 by providing scheduling and dispatch services. The service contract advances the partnership to another level – one in which the STC will employ the drivers, prepare daily schedules and take care of vehicle maintenance and insurance. This is the second contract that the STC has negotiated to provide services. They began serving Middleburg Heights in April 2008.

NOCOP Executive Director John Dailey noted “The partnership with the STC is the next step in providing premier senior transportation services for those in North Olmsted, Olmsted Falls and Olmsted Township. This is an exciting opportunity for all of us involved with senior and disabled transportation services. This partnership will lower fares for the riders, lower cost to the member communities and provide for increased and potentially expanded service to our riders. Everybody will benefit from this.”

Interested residents can call Senior Transportation Connection at 1-800-983-4782 (Relay 1-800-750-0750) for more information or to schedule their ride. Riders can scheduled their trip up to 7 days in advance or by Noon the day prior. The STC agreed to maintain fares for riders which are $1.00 within home community, $2.00 into another community, and $3.00 if out of the service area. Transportation to a variety of locations is now available to residents, including: medical appointments, shopping, and socialization.

STC’s Executive Director Janice Dzigiel stated “The STC is pleased to have the opportunity to serve the older and disabled riders of the NOCOP communities. We are committed to quality, safety and getting people where they need to go, when they need to go.”

Senior Transportation Connection brings area communities together to coordinate senior transportation providing enhanced services to senior adults including expanded travel areas and extended hours. With the new passenger vans, the municipal and social service providers can provide more service to area seniors throughout the county.